Jake and the Fatman

The Yanks are reportedly still in talks with the Padres about Jake Peavy. If the Yanks were too get CC and Peavy, they'd have the best front of the rotation in baseball. Anyone disagree?

Comments

[Atheose]

1. Sabathia
2. Peavy
3. Wang
4. Chamberlain
5. Pettitte

I'm not too fond of Peavy, but that's the best rotation in the AL and it's not even close. Apparently the Padres are high on Hughes and IPK. You gotta pull the trigger on a deal like that if you're Cashman.

[Lar]

Peavy + CC + Tex would be kind of sweet.

Of course, I still like Moose.. ;)

[310ToJoba]

@ Atheose,

Every time someone says "not even close," something awful happens.

There are still a lot of good front 3's in the AL East alone that the Yankees have to worry about, and don't sleep on the talent the Rays can use to fill their 4th and 5th starters' spots behind Shields, Kazmir and Garza, especially if Price is in that mix.

[Atheose]

Yeah, there's always an injury or two that seem to screw things up... but on paper the Yankees look very strong with that rotation, stronger than the Sox or Rays. And if you replace Pettitte with Burnett on that list then they're even more formidable.

[Mike]

How do any of you dismiss Lester, Beckett and Matuzaka so easily?

[AndrewYF]

Because they're not as good as CC, Peavy and Wang? It's a pretty simple issue.

[Atheose]

Yeah Mike, I'm a Sox fan and it's pretty plain that the Yanks' hypothetical rotation is much, MUCH better. Barring some injuries, it's not even close. There are questions about Sabathia's health, but he's never had problems in his career. And it will be tougher for Peavy pitching both in the AL and outside of Petco, but that just means he'll be very good instead of amazing. There is a question about Chamberlain's arm, but as a #4 starter that's not a pressing issue.

The Sox meanwhile need Beckett to be healthy, they need Daisuke to continue to work the crazy strategy he does (and hopefully go longer into games), and are praying Wakefield doesn't regress anymore. And can Lester prove that last season was the rule, and not the exception?

I'm optimistic about 2009 with regards to the Red Sox, but if the Yankees get Sabathia AND Peavy it's going to be a tough year.

[Paul SF]

Given that Sabathia hasn't backed down on his stated West Coast preference, and that a Yanks-Peavy trade is still viewed as "a long shot" (from the link), there's an old saying about chickens and hatching that springs to mind.

Though, no doubt, it would be the best top two in the AL.

[Atheose]

reversejinx reversejinx reversejinx

[310ToJoba]

@Mike

Because the 4th and 5th spots in the rotation for the Red Sox are anything but a sure thing. It's about the rotation as a whole and not just the front 3.

[Mike]

I hope you get Sabathia and Peavy so we can find out. But, why would these guys want to leave their cushy jobs in the National League to bang their heads against a wall in the AL East?